Langdeshang Miao Village

Langde Miao Village is located in Leishan County, about 10km (6 miles) southeast of Kaili, Capital of Southeast Guizhou.

Surrounded by green mountains, Langde Village is situated beside a crystal-clear stream. Several roofed wooden bridges, called "Wind and rain" bridges by the locals, traverse the stream. Several stone grain mills and mill wheels have been built on both sides of the stream. Ducks can be seen here and there, flapping their wings happily in the water. On the waist of the slope facing the village is a 150-meter-long racecourse and a flat ground, whose area is about 8 mu (about half a hectare or 1.25 acres). On the fifth day of the third month of the Chinese calendar, thousands of young Miao people from four counties: Leishan, Kaili, Majiang, and Danzhai, which have a common boundary, come to the Langde. They climb the mountains, sing musical dialogues in responsive styles, and race horses.

The Langde Village is located at the foot of a mountain. There are five “flower roads” leading to the village. A wooden gatehouse, called the "village gate", is built at the eastern, western and northern entrances of the village. Row upon row of wooden houses on stilts with ladders leading up makes a picturesque scene. The roads and courtyards in the village are paved with cobbles or bluestones. There is a drum ground and a lusheng ground (the lusheng is a reed-pipe wind instrument used by Miao, Yao and Dong peoples in Southwest China), built in the pattern of an ancient bronze drum surface. Twelve short tracks, paved with blue-brown cobbles, stretch out in twelve directions, symbolizing twelve rays of lights. A cobble pattern of a galloping horse is inlaid at the end of the drum ground and the lusheng ground.

Visitors to Langde Village have to drink "block-the-way" wine when they arrive (a local custom for welcoming the guests). Twelve tables are placed in the middle of the path from the highroad to the gate of the village. Several traditionally-dressed young people will propose a toast to the guests with two bowls of wine, wishing them good health and happiness. At the last table before the village, a big cow horn is used to hold the wine and villagers again propose a toast to the guests. So guests should drink a lot before they enter the village! However, those who are not good at drinking don't have to worry. If they don't want to drink, they can put their hands behind their backs, bend forward a little and touch the cup with their lips, and say "dousemo" (Miao language for "thank you"). Then they can pass the table. The villagers are very hospitable, and they will never make guests drink if they can't.

The welcoming ceremony continues when the villagers set off firecrackers, play mangtong (a kind of local musical instrument), and sing songs related to toasting the guests. Then the villagers will dress up and lead the guests to the lusheng ground. The young villagers will participate in traditional dances: the lusheng dance, the wooden stool dance, the wooden drum dance, the bronze drum dance, and so on. Finally, all the villagers will go to the lusheng ground and form several circles and dance. They will also invite the guests to join them. After the dancing ceremony, guests can go to the villagers' homes to observe the creaking spinning wheels and the weaving machines and enjoy the quiet village life.

Tips:

1. There are many villagers selling silverware. Some of the things may be fake silver, but the design is exquisite. Generally, it costs 40 yuan to buy a bracelet.
2. Accommodation: tourists can stay in the village overnight. It usually costs 5 yuan for a plank bed per night. The Village Rest House is located in a typical Miao-styled wooden building. There are ten beds in one room, and it is clean there. There are no bathrooms, and tourists can go to take a bath in the river. The Rest House is opposite the bronze drum ground. There is a public telephone installed behind the rest house.
3. It costs about 10 yuan per person to eat at a villager’s home.